ROOKIE Worcester Warriors prop Gareth Milasinovich has suffered a new injury set-back after dislocating his big toe in a “freak accident” on the training ground.

The 24-year-old South African has been out of action since snapping his Achilles tendon in a 50-12 Aviva Premiership defeat at high-flying Exeter Chiefs last April.

He was spotted hobbling around Sixways on crutches during Warriors' 24-17 Premiership win against Harlequins last Sunday.

“He snapped his Achilles tendon in Exeter last season and unfortunately he's had a freak accident where he dislocated his big toe on the other foot in training,” explained Warriors head coach Carl Hogg.

“It was just one of those unfortunate things and he will have to go through a process to rehabilitate his big toe.

“It wasn’t a collision injury. He stepped out of a tackle and dislocated his big toe.

"I hadn’t come across that happening in the past. The injury is on the opposite foot to the Achilles he hurt and there was no link to the original injury.”

Milasinovich was stretched off at Sandy Park last year after coming on as a replacement for James Johnston.

The prop made four Premiership appearances - all as a replacement - for Warriors last term after arriving from the University of Johannesburg.

Giant lock Christian Scotland-Williamson (shoulder) and full-back Chris Pennell (heel) will definitely miss Warriors’ Premiership derby at Gloucester on Saturday (3pm).

Warriors are sweating over the fitness of skipper Dewald Potgieter (ankle), lock Darren Barry (ankle) and versatile back Josh Adams (nose) who all picked up knocks against Quins.

Versatile back Jamie Shillcock is available after concussion, while Hogg is hoping to reintegrate scrum-half duo Jonny Arr (concussion) and Luke Baldwin (bicep) over the next couple of weeks.

Fellow number nine Francois Hougaard (shoulder) is returning to training, with hooker Niall Annett expected back in the next “two or three weeks” after recovering from an ankle operation.

Annett started the campaign as Warriors’ first choice hooker and last featured in their narrow 18-17 home loss against Northampton Saints on November 18.

“We will hopefully get Niall back in the next two or three weeks and he’s another who will come back through the Anglo-Welsh Cup route and into that next block of Premiership matches," explained Hogg.

According to Hogg, wing Tom Biggs is now “back running" and "making positive strides" after an injection in an ankle problem which has limited him to just two appearances this term.

However, appointed skipper Gerrit-Jan van Velze remains unavailable.

The South African number eight hasn't played since taking a blow to the head in Warriors’ 35-3 opening-day defeat against Saracens at Twickenham in September.

“GJ is back and doing some graded returns but he is a bit more longer term and it is more of a gradual process with him," said Hogg.